Errors cost Post 573 against Wheeling Post 1

AARON PETCHEL

Sports correspondent

THROWING — Brilliant Post 573’s Shayne Christian makes a throw to first base for an out during Tuesday’s game against Wheeling Post 1 at Bill Mazeroski Field. (Photo by Kim North)

CONNORVILLE — Seven was an unlucky number for the Brilliant Post 573 Legion baseball team against Wheeling Post 1.

Post 1 pounded out 12 hits, and Wheeling was aided by seven Post 573 errors en route to a 14-1 victory in five innings Tuesday evening at Bill Mazeroski Field.

“They are a good-hitting club,” Brilliant (2-2) head coach Keith ReJonis said. “We just could not get that third out. You have 21 outs you have to earn, but we are giving teams 30-35. Every ball they hit they stroked. They were hard hit. I don’t think we played sloppy, it was just how hard they hit the ball.”

Wheeling did not do much offensively through the first two innings, but Post 1 picked it up after that as the victors scored all of their runs in the last three innings of the game.

“Unfortunately, that is how we have started our games, Wheeling (5-3) head coach Jon-Michael Brunner said. “We have started most of our game like this. We have to be more mentally tough at the start of games.”

Erik Carver picked up the win for Wheeling. Carver struck out four, walked one and allowed one run on one hit in four innings of work on the mound.

“We were not sure what we were going to get from Erik,” Brunner said. “He did not throw a lot of innings in the spring for Wheeling Park.”

Logan Wells came on to pitch the bottom of the fifth inning. Wells, who did not record a strikeout, retired Brilliant in order in the inning.

Gino Barber took the loss for Brilliant. Barber struck out one, and did not walk a batter while allowing eight runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings of work.

Daniel Kelly came on with two outs in the top of the fourth. Kelly did not record a strikeout, walked one and allowed four runs on four hits before being pulled with two outs in the fifth.

Dalton Watt finished the inning for Post 573. He struck out one and walked one.

“We have a lot of good pitchers,” ReJonis said. “They just don’t have any holes in their lineup. They can hit one through nine, top to bottom throughout their order.”

Two of Wheeling’s 12 hits went for extra-bases, and all 12 of the hits came from the No. 2 through No. 6 hitters in its lineup.

Zach Taylor tallied three singles and four RBIs, Hunter Kelly collected a single, a triple and three RBIs and Cas McCool contributed three singles and an RBI.

Also, Trevor Thomas recorded a pair of RBI singles, and Dom Gorence delivered a single, a double and an RBI.

Dasyn Hores singled with one out in the bottom of the first to account for Brilliant’s lone hit of the game.

“We have good hitters, we just didn’t hit the ball today,” ReJonis said.

Post 573 plated a run on an error in the first to take an early 1-0 lead.

Brilliant held the lead until the top of the third.

Wheeling scored four runs in each of the next two innings before scoring sixth in the fifth to bring the mercy rule into play.

“For the most part we played a clean game defensively,” Brunner said. “It is easy for a pitcher when you have guys behind him making plays. We fielded the ground balls, and our outfield chased everything down. We call the outfield the ‘no fly zone.’ They get to everything. It is a nice feeling for a pitcher to have a defense like that.”

Both of Post 573’s losses have come against Post 1.

“We like to play the local teams,” Brunner said. “We want to keep the Legion spirit going. People ask why we play the local teams. If you do not play local teams, then there will not be local teams. We appreciate the other coaches. They are sacrificing their summer. The coaches over there are all all-star guys. We like to play Brilliant. They are well coached.”

UP NEXT

Brilliant: Is scheduled to play Toronto at 6 p.m. today at the Knights Baseball Complex.

Wheeling: Is scheduled to play in a tournament in Blissfield, Mich., this weekend. The tournament is scheduled to get underway Friday.